REDCON


In the U.S. military, the term REDCON is short for Readiness Condition and is used to refer to a unit's readiness to respond to and engage in combat operations. There are five REDCON levels, as described below in this excerpt from Army Field Manual 71–1.

Overview

REDCON-1: Full alert; unit ready to move and fight.
  • * WMD alarms and hot loop equipment stowed; OPs pulled in.
  • * All personnel alert and mounted on vehicles; weapons manned.
  • * Engines started.
  • * Company team is ready to move immediately.REDCON-1.5
  • * WMD alarms and hot loop equipment stowed; OPs pulled in.
  • * All personnel alert and mounted on vehicles; weapons manned.
  • * Company team is ready to move immediately.REDCON-2: Full alert; unit ready to fight.
  • * Equipment stowed.
  • * Precombat checks complete.
  • * All personnel alert and mounted in vehicles; weapons manned & charged, round in chamber, weapon on safe.
  • *
  • * All digital and FM communications links operational.
  • * Status reports submitted in accordance with task force SOP.
  • * Company team is ready to move within 15 minutes of notification.REDCON-3: Reduced alert.
  • * Fifty percent of the unit executes work and rest plans.
  • * Remainder of the unit executes security plan. Based on the commander's guidance and the enemy situation, some personnel executing the security plan may execute portions of the work plan.
  • * Company team is ready to move within 30 minutes of notification.REDCON-4: Minimum alert.
  • * OPs manned; one soldier per platoon designated to monitor radio and man turret weapons.
  • * Digital and FM links with task force and other company teams maintained.
  • * Company team is ready to move within one hour of notification.